Basic Biographical Details Name: | Thomas Tolmie Paterson | Designation: | | Born: | 30 December 1864 | Died: | 22 December 1933 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Tolmie Paterson was born on 30 December 1864 in Edinburgh, the son of the architect John Paterson and his wife Margaret Tolmie. He was a nephew of the architect and City Assessor Robert Paterson. He was educated at George Watson's College where he showed particular aptitude for cartography and mechanical draughtsmanship. His father having died in July 1877 when he was aged about twelve, he was articled on 1 April 1880 to Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. There he worked on the Catholic Apostolic Church, the Conservative Club and the feuing and development of the Cluny and Fettes estates, in the mid-1880s partly under the supervision of Anderson's partners George Washington Browne and Hew M Wardrop. During his time in Anderson's office he had formed what was described in the RIAS Quarterly obituary as an informal 'associateship' with Lorimer, perhaps on competitions. Paterson remained with Anderson until the end of 1894, commencing independent practice in Edinburgh on 1 January 1895 at 5 York Place. In about 1905 he merged his practice with that of his uncle and moved to 10a George Street with a house at 124 Braid Road. He had what was described as 'a successful term of about ten years' and was admitted FRIBA on 2 December 1907, his proposers being Hippolyte Jean Blanc, Archibald Macpherson and Alexander Hunter Crawford.
In about 1909 the merged practice ran into difficulties. Again in the words of his obituarist, 'happy results did not ensue… The ill health of the principal [Robert Hamilton-Paterson] was closely followed by bad times in the Building Trade affecting the architectural profession.' The practice declined somewhat, and probably as a result of the Finance Act of 1909 which introduced a tax on development he emigrated to Calgary, Canada where he was recorded as having an office at 575 Maclean Block, 8th Avenue.
Paterson was not successful in establishing a practice in Canada and a few years later returned to Edinburgh where he set up practice in about 1920 as a 'Brewers architects and engineer' working from his home at 227 Dalkeith Road. The practice closed within a short time.
Thomas Tolmie Paterson died on 27 December 1933, having resigned from both the RIBA and RIAS a year or two previously, and was buried at Grange Cemetery. His wife Mary Ann Ramsay survived him, dying on 22 May 1950.
Publications: 'Theatre Panics and their Cure, with Plans for a Safe Theatre', 1896 | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 13, East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1864 | | At time of his birth | | 3, Morningside Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1877 | | Address whilst attending George Watson's. | | 16, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1894 | | In office of Wardrop & Anderson | | 5, York Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1 January 1895 | c. 1905 | | | 10A, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1905 * | | | | 124, Braid Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1907 * | | | | 575 Maclean Block, 8th Avenue, Calgary, Canada | Business | After 1909 | Before 1911 | | | 13, York Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1914 * | | | | 227, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1923 * | | | | Seafield, Largs Road, West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | c. 1930 | | Given as usual address on death certificate, though he died at 3 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow. |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Thomas John Miller Reid | 1895 | 1899 | Assistant | |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1880 | Conservative Club | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As apprentice to Robert Rowand Anderson | | 1884 | Catholic Apostolic Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As apprentice to Robert Rowand Anderson | | 1889 | Villa, 14 Wester Coates Avenue | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1895 | Floriston | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | 7 Hope Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction as Post Office | | After 1895 | Factory, Fettes Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | Factory, Watson Crescent | Polwarth | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | Home for the Aged | Polton | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | After 1895 | House, East Suffolk Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | House, Morningside Park | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | House, Morningside Terrace | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | Niddrie Mill Public School | Niddrie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1895 | Offices and shops, 26-28 Frederick Street | New Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction | | After 1895 | Presbytery hall for Kinross Parish Church | Kinross | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | | | After 1895 | Reformatory for Girls | Loanhead | | Midlothian | Scotland | Reconstruction | | After 1895 | Workmen's tenements | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1896 | George Watson's Athletic Club pavilion | Myreside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1896 | House for James Bell of the North British Railway | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1897 | Double villa, Lauder Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1898 | Tenements, Royston Terrace | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1899 | Midlothian County Council Buildings | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Placed fifth in competition (entered jointly with Victor Daniel Horsburgh) | | 1900 | Edzell Lodge | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1900 | Memorial to General Wauchope of Niddrie (Celtic Cross) | Niddrie Mains | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1902 | Cardon | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1902 | King's Park Burgh School | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1903 | Carnegie Public Library | Motherwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Competition design exhibited - placed second | | 1907 | W and J Raeburn's Brewery and Maltings | Duddingston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Further buildings | | c. 1910 | Castle Brewery | Craigmillar/Duddingston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Large maltings |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | | | www.familysearch.org | | www.familysearch.org | | Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints: Website | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 5 January 1934 | v146 | | p10 - obituary | | RIAS Quarterly | 1934 | First quarter | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | p42 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | George Watson's Archive | Records of George Watson's Boys College | | | | H M Register House | Death Register | | 27 December 1933. | | HM New Register House | OPR (Register of births) | | 1864 | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no1379 (microfilm reel 12) |
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